The humanitarian situation in Somalia is deteriorating rapidly as aid cuts force widespread closures of health facilities, leaving millions without access to essential care and pushing parts of the country closer to famine, according to a June 11, 2026 statement from CARE International.
Health centre closures across multiple regions have disrupted life-saving services for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children, at a time when nearly two million children are already acutely malnourished. This includes around 500,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, a condition that can quickly become fatal without treatment. Nearly 50 CARE-supported centres have shut down since January 2026, while around 500 primary healthcare facilities nationwide have reportedly closed due to funding shortages.
The collapse of services comes amid worsening drought conditions following poor seasonal rains, increasing fears of a broader famine crisis. CARE reports that families are now facing severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical care, with preventable diseases such as cholera, measles, and diphtheria spreading in affected areas.
Humanitarian workers describe a worsening situation on the ground, where remaining clinics are overwhelmed and many displaced families must travel long distances in search of care that is no longer available. In some regions, pregnant women and severely malnourished children are arriving at facilities only to find them closed, deepening the health emergency.
Rising costs are further compounding the crisis. Therapeutic nutrition supplies used to treat malnourished children have increased significantly in price over the past two years, driven by funding gaps and global supply chain disruptions. At the same time, inflation, currency instability, and rising water and food prices are reducing household access to basic necessities, with some areas reporting steep increases in the cost of water.
The crisis is also being driven by a combination of climate shocks, conflict, displacement, and economic instability. Women and children, who make up the majority of Somalia’s internally displaced population, are among the most affected, facing heightened risks of hunger, illness, school dropout, and early marriage as household coping mechanisms weaken.
CARE warns that without urgent and sustained humanitarian funding, essential services will continue to shrink just as needs are rising. The organization is calling for expanded international support and improved access for humanitarian operations to prevent further deterioration and avoid a full-scale famine scenario.
